Machine for notching statistical cards



Aug. 15, 1933.

I. G. RUMFELT 1,922,869

MACHINE FOR NOTCHING STATISTICAL CARDS Filed Nov. 7, 1932 OOOOOOnOOOO O OOOOOOHOOOOOHOGOOO Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Isaac Guy Rumfelt, Hartford, Conn.

Application November 7, 1932. Serial No. 641,519

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine which is adapted to cut notches in the edges of cards on which are statistical data, in such localities that cards containing the same or similar tabulations,

5 or compilations, or information, when grouped together and filed in a box, drawer or cabinet of the type which has index bars shaped to fit the,

notches, will be uniform and any card which does not belong with the group in which it may 1 have been erroneously placed, but to another group, will be automatically exposed so that it can be quickly removed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive machine which can be rapidly operated by anyone to notch the edges of data cards in the various localities required to ensure their assembling and filing in the correct groups.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a machine of the type in which the punches necessary to out the required notches are set and locked by the action of finger keys, and. the cards inserted singly in a die platen which carries them to the punches that are set for the particular combination of notches to be cut. After the cards of a group have been notched the punches are released and reset for notching the cards of a different group. The machine is especially serviceable for notching recordcards that have been previously perforated near the lower edges.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the frame, key board, keys and the'die platen which carries the cards to the punches, of a mechanism which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the plane, indicated by the dotted line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the frame and a portion of the die platen.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a series of details showing the various relations of a punch and the die platen.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of a card which has been notched by the machine.

Fig. 7, on smaller scale, shows a front elevation of the complete machine.

The base 1 of the machine illustrated is a casting having posts 2 at each end upon which is mounted a head 3. Movably supported by the head is a vertically movable platen 4 which is depressed bythe action of a lever 5 and is normally raised by a spring 6 (Fig. 7); The lever can be pressed down by hand or drawn down by a wire 7 that may be connected with a foot treadle or with an electric motor, in the manner common to presses, the operating mechanism not being a feature of the invention is not illustrated.

In an opening in the base below the platen is placed a frame which is comprised of a rectangular block 8 to the ends of which are fastened plates 9. Fitted in horizontal perforations in this block are three horizontal rows of key bars 10, vertically the key bars are staggered. The outer ends 5 of the key bars are provided with keys 11 upon which may be numerals, letters or other indices.

The outward movements of the key bars are' limited by the edges of plates 12 which are secured to the front of the block and extend into 7 notches in the bars. The inward movements of the key bars are limited by the release bars 13 which extend to one side of the machine and are movable horizontally in brackets 14 fastened to the back of the bed block. The release bars back of the key bars have notches 15 with inclined Walls and they are normally pressed outward by springs 16. i

The block 8 has vertical openings which intersect the horizontal key bar perforations. In these vertical openings are balls 17 which normally rest in notches in the key bars. Above these balls are pins 18 which are normally held down by springs 19. These pins extend upward through a guide and spring retaining plate 20. In the vertical openings of the block above the pins are vertically movable punches 21. The punches are notched on one side and. their movements are limited by plates 22 which are fastened to the block and extend into the notches.

Fastened to the under side of the platen 4 is a die block 23. The die block has in its rear Wall vertical slots 25 which correspond in shape and location with the punches and form the dies that cooperate with the punches for cutting the notches in the cards. The die block also has a slot 25 that extends horizontally across the front wall of the block and back into the vertical slots. At the front and below the horizontal slot is a table 26 that is fastened to the bed block by a bar 27. Springs 28 are fastened to the platen and extend down onto the table. A guide block 29 is arranged to be moved along the front edge of the table from one side and when located in the desired position for guiding the cards is fastened by a screw 30.

Contingent upon the combination of notches to be cut in the cards the proper finger keys are pushed inward. As the key bars move in the balls 17 ride from the position illustrated in the first view of Fig. 5, up the inclined walls of the notches in the bars and rest upon the top edges, as shown in the third view of Fig. 5. This lifts and locks the pins 18 with their upper ends extending above the plate 19, as illustrated in the third view of Fig. 5. A card 31 that preferably has perforations 32 near its lower edge is fed over the table 26 under the springs 28 into the horizontal slot 25 in the die block, the side edge of the card being guided by the block 29, until the perforations register with the punches 21. 4 is then pressed down, which position is illustrated in the fourth view of Fig. 5, and the perforated edge of the card forced over the punches which have been raised and notches 33 cut in its edge. Such punches as have not been raised remain in the position illustrated in the second view of Fig. 5 when the platen is pressed down and thus do not cut any notches. After the edge of a card has been notched the platen is raised, the notched card withdrawn and another card inserted in the same way. As long as the keys which have been pressed in remain in that position all of the cards presented will be provided with the same combination of notches. With all the cards of the group to be similarly notched completed the buttons on the release bars 13 are pressed in and the inclined walls of the notches in the release bars engaging the key bars which have been pressed in, push them out so that all of the bars and punches will again be in their normal positions. When another group of cards is to be notched the proper keys are pressed inward and the operation repeated. Any desired combination of notches meeting the code adopted may be cut in this simple manner by the mechanism described.

It is, of course, to be understood that while the term notch has been used throughout the description, the mechanism without any change, may be employed to perforate cards, that is, cut away portions a slight distance in from their edges, by merely inserting the cards further in the horizontal slot 25 than is necessary when the the edges are cut away, and that the conception includes this.

The invention'claimed is: 1. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a"base,'a platen movabletoward the base,

ablock mounted on the base, punches movable vertically insaid block; key, bars movable hori zontally in'said block, pins movable vertically in said block between thekey bars and the punches, means interposed between the key bars and said pins and adapted to lift the pins toward the punches when the bars are moved inward,

' and a block carried by the platen, said block" having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards. 3 2. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movabletoward the base,

a blockmounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, pins movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches, means'interposed between the key bars and said pins and adapted toliftand hold the pins raised when the bars are moved inward, means for moving the key bars outward and allowing the pins to drop, and a block carried by the platen, said block having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards.

The platen 3. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base, a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, pins movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches, balls interposed between the key bars and said pins and adapted to lift and lock the pins raised when the bars are moved inward, and a block carried by the platen, said block having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards.

4. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base, a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, said bars having notches normally in line with the punches, pins movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches, means in the notches in the key bars adapted to lift and hold the pins raised when the bars are moved inward, and a block carried by the platen, said block having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards.

5. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base, a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, pins movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches, means interposed between the key bars and said pins and adapted to lift and hold the pins raised when the bars are moved inward, bars having notches with inclined walls in line with the key bars and adapted to push outward such key bars as have been moved inward, and a block carried by the platen, said block having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for re-- edges of cards.

7. A- machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base,

a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in-said block, means movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches and adapted to be lifted when said bars are moved inward, means for moving the key bars outward'and allowing said lifted means to drop, and a block carried by the platen, said block having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards.

8. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base, a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, means movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches and adapted to be lifted beneath the punches by the inward movement of the bars, means adapted to move the key bars outward, and means having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards, carried by the platen.

9. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base, a block mounted on the base, punches movable vertically in said block, key bars movable horizontally in said block, said bars having notches normally in line with the punches, pins movable vertically in said block between the key bars and the punches, means in the notches in the key bars adapted to lift and hold the pins raised when the bars are moved inward, and means having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards, carried by the platen.

10. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, a platen movable toward the base,

I punches movable vertically of said base, key bars movable horizontally of said base, pins movable push outward such key bars as have been moved inward, said platen carrying die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards.

11. A machine for cutting cards which comprises a base, punches movable vertically on said base, a platen movable toward the base and having die openings aligned with the punches and a slot communicating with said die openings for receiving the edges of cards, key bars movable horizontally on said base at right angles to the movement of the punches, and wedging means on the key bars adapted on the inward movement of said bars to lift and lock the punches against movement.

12. A machine for cutting cards which com- 

